Luis Gil allowed just one hit in 6 1/3 innings, while Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge hit early home runs off Luis Castillo, helping the New York Yankees beat the Seattle Mariners 5-0 on Thursday to split their four-game series.
Gil (6-1) retired his first nine batters before J.P. Crawford hit an infield single in the fourth. The right-hander struck out eight and walked three after setting a Yankees rookie record with 14 strikeouts on Saturday against the White Sox.
“It’s been a treat to watch, that’s for sure,” Judge said.
After Crawford’s hit, Gil retired the next six batters before issuing two walks in the sixth. Following a walk to Dylan Moore, pitching coach Matt Blake visited Gil, who ended the inning by striking out Luke Raley with a 97 mph fastball.
In the seventh, Gil retired Mitch Garver with a flyball to the warning track before being pulled. He exited to applause from the crowd and tipped his cap as he walked to the dugout.
Gil won his fifth straight start and sixth consecutive decision, allowing just two runs over 30 2/3 innings in his last five starts.
Gil joined Steve Kline (1972) and CC Sabathia (2010) as the only starters in Yankees history to pitch at least six innings and allow one run or fewer in five consecutive starts.
“It’s a combination of things,” Gil said through a translator, explaining his success. “Being focused on what I need to do out there and executing a plan of attack. The support from the team has been incredible all year. So, many different things have contributed to this.”
Gil’s latest impressive outing came after manager Aaron Boone stated before the game that there will be no innings limit on the rookie this year, following his recovery from Tommy John surgery last season.
